Adriatic Research Articles

A Climatology of Convective Precipitation over Europe

Abstract The annual, seasonal, and diurnal spatiotemporal heavy convective precipitation patterns over a pan-European domain are analyzed in this study using a combination of datasets, including the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) (IMERG) precipitation rate product, E-OBS ground-based precipitation gauge data, European climatological gauge-adjusted radar precipitation dataset (EURADCLIM), Operational Programme for the Exchange of Weather Radar Information (OPERA) ground-based radar-derived precipitation rates, and fifth major global reanalysis produced by ECMWF (ERA5) total and convective precipitation products. Arrival Time Difference Network (ATDnet) lightning data are used in conjunction with IMERG and EURADCLIM precipitation rates, with an imposed threshold of 10 mm h−1 to classify precipitation as convective. Annually, the largest convective precipitation accumulations are over the European seas and coastlines. In summer, convective precipitation is more common over the European continent, though relatively large accumulations exist over the northern coastal waters and the southern seas, with a seasonal localized maximum over the northern Adriatic Sea. Activity shifts southward to the Mediterranean and its coastlines in autumn and winter, with maxima over the Ionian Sea, the eastern Adriatic Sea, and the adjacent coastline. Over the continent, 1%–10% of the total precipitation accumulated is classified as convective, increasing to 10%–40% over the surrounding seas. In contrast, 30%–50% of ERA5 precipitation accumulations over land is produced by the convective parameterization scheme and 40%–60% over the seas; however, only 1% of ERA5 convective precipitation accumulations are from rain rates exceeding 10 mm h−1. Regional analyses indicate that convective precipitation rates over the inland mountains follow diurnal heating, though little to no diurnal pattern exists in convective precipitation rates over the seas and coastal mountains.

Native versus non-native ascidians in the Adriatic Sea: Species-specific patterns in behavior and HSP70 response during heat stress

Native versus non-native ascidians in the Adriatic Sea: Species-specific patterns in behavior and HSP70 response during heat stress

Slab Driven Quaternary Rock‐Uplift and Topographic Evolution in the Northern‐Central Apennines From Linear Inversion of the Drainage System

AbstractInvestigating rock‐uplift variations in time and space provides insights into the processes driving mountain‐belt evolution. The Apennine Mountains of Italy underwent substantial Quaternary rock uplift that shaped the present‐day topography. Here, we present linear river‐profile inversions for 28 catchments draining the eastern flank of the Northern‐Central Apennines to reconstruct rock‐uplift histories. We calibrated these results by estimating an erodibility coefficient (K) from incision rates and catchment‐averaged erosion rates obtained from cosmogenic‐nuclide data, and we tested whether a uniform or variable K produces a rock‐uplift model that satisfactorily fits independent geochronological constraints. We employ a landscape‐evolution model to demonstrate that our inversion results are reliable despite substantial seaward lengthening of the catchments during uplift. Our findings suggest that a rock‐uplift pulse started around 3.0–2.5 Ma, coinciding with the onset of extension in the Apennines, and migrated southward at a rate of ∼90 km/Myr. The highest reconstructed rock‐uplift rates (>1 km/Myr) occur in the region encompassing the highest Apennine massifs. These results are consistent with numerical models and field evidence from other regions exhibiting rapid rock‐uplift pulses and uplift migration related to slab break‐off. Our results support the hypothesis of break‐off of the Adria slab under the central Apennines and its southward propagation during the Quaternary. Moreover, the results suggest a renewed increase in rock‐uplift rates after the Middle Pleistocene along the Adriatic coast, coeval with recent uplift acceleration along the eastern coast of southern Italy in the Apulian foreland.

Threatened Species of Benthic Invertebrates Along the Rocky Coast of the Adriatic Sea in Albania

Threatened Species of Benthic Invertebrates Along the Rocky Coast of the Adriatic Sea in Albania

Chapter 9. Feral fields of Northern Dalmatia (Croatia)

AbstractHow do we identify ancient fields and farming systems in areas where the same spaces of cultivation have been used repeatedly over thousands of years? In the limestone karst landscapes of northern Dalmatia, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, drystone field walls, terraces, and cairns are common features that attest to generations of working the land for agriculture. While confounding archaeological objects due to complex histories of reuse, drystone terraced field systems throughout the Mediterranean are believed to have roots in ancient and prehistoric land use. Against this backdrop, this paper works to better understand the dynamic patterns and outcomes of field “recycling” through multiple lines of evidence for long‐term changes in cropping patterns and agroecology in multi‐millennial agricultural landscapes of northern Dalmatia. We compare archaeobotanical data from the Ravni Kotari plain to documents of preindustrial land use from the 1826 Franciscan cadastre. We also draw upon contemporary observations of traditionally managed, semi‐wild olive groves on the nearby Adriatic island of Ugljan to better understand the land‐use legacies inherent in the landscapes of northern Dalmatia today. These data show that, despite a relatively static agricultural built environment of field walls and terraces, Dalmatian communities held historically dynamic relationships with domesticated and wild plant ecologies. Prehistoric integration of cereal agriculture with wild forest resources appears to have shifted to commercial‐scale domesticated arboriculture in the Classical period, leaving a multifaceted legacy of commercial agriculture, traditional farming, and rewilding among the contemporary cultural landscapes of Dalmatia.

An Overview of Pollution Level in Vlora Port

This study reports the concentrations of organic pollutants, nutrients, and some physicochemical parameters in water samples from Vlora Port. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, o-, m- and p-Xyelenes, Ethylbenzene) were analyzed organic pollutants. The levels of NO3-, NO2-, NH4-, N-total, PO4-, and P-total were determined. Temperature, PH, Conductivity, Turbidity, TDS, TSS DO, BOD and COD were physical-chemical parameters determined in the water samples. Vlora Port is located in the southern part of Albania in Vlora Bay, near Vlora City in the Adriatic Sea. Elevated activities in port areas (terrestrial and marine areas) are the main causes of water pollution. Urban pollution, agriculture, and water currents can influence marine water pollution in this area. To evaluate pollution levels at the port of Vlora, water samples (12 stations) were analyzed over a two-year period (2022 – 2023). Water samples were collected during two seasons: March and July of each year Analyses of organic compounds were performed using a gas chromatograph (Varian 450 GC) equipped with ECD and FID detectors. Nutrients were analyzed using the UV-VIS technique. Titration, automatic, semi-automatic, and gravimetric methods were used to determine the physicochemical parameters. Organic pollutants were detected in all the water samples. Nutrient concentrations and physicochemical values classified the marine water of Vlora’s port as moderately good. Levels of organic pollutants, nutrients, and physicochemical parameters in water samples from Vlora’s port were higher/comparable with those reported in previous studies of the Adriatic Sea (Albania coastline).

Microbial communities as indicators of marine ecosystem health: Insights from coastal sediments in the eastern Adriatic Sea

Considering the adaptability and responsiveness of microorganisms to environmental changes, their indicator potential is still not acknowledged in European directives. This comprehensive study examined the changes of microbial communities in sediments and a range of geochemical parameters from pristine and anthropogenically impacted coastal areas in the eastern Adriatic Sea. Various analytical methods found evidence of sediment contamination (high toxicity level, enrichments of metals, tributyltin) in certain areas, leading to the categorization of sediments based on the level of anthropogenic disturbance. Prokaryotes were identified as the most promising group of microbes for further research, with specific bacterial families (Rhodobacteraceae, Ectothiorhodospiraceae, Cyclobacteriaceae) and genera (Boseongicola, B2M28, Subgroup 23, Sva0485, Thiogranum) proposed as potential indicators of environmental status. Finally, predictive models were developed to identify key indicator variables for assessing anthropogenic impact in sediments. This research represents an essential step toward incorporating microbial communities into assessments of benthic environmental health.

Influence of changing water mass circulation on detrital component and carbon burial of late Pleistocene and Holocene sediments in the eastern-central Mid-Adriatic deep

A sediment core was retrieved in the eastern-central Mid-Adriatic Deep (MAD) to study the changes in the water mass circulation and their effect on carbon burial efficiency and the provenance of a detrital sediment component. An age-depth model of the sediment core POS-514-40-11 is based on radiocarbon dating and tephrochronology. Two tephra were correlated to the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff and Pomici di Mercato eruptions, extending the previously known distribution of Pomici di Mercato tephra. Based on the analysis of heavy mineral (HM) assemblages throughout the core, for the first time the occurrence of Eastern Adriatic current (EAC) was estimated at ca. 15 ka BP, i.e., at the beginning of the post last glacial maximum (LGM) transgression. During the late Pleistocene, the detrital component was dominated by Paleo-Po river sediments, which gradually shifted toward the Albanian province as a basin-wide counterclockwise circulation was established. Mass accumulation rates of organic carbon (OC), stable isotopes of carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N) as well as C/N ratios, showed that carbon burial was affected by sea level rise and climatic changes. Climatic effects are observed during cold periods i.e., the Younger Dryas and the 8.4–7.9 ka cold period when terrestrial OC was dominant. In the latter case dominance of terrestrial carbon was due to the North Adriatic dense water (NAddW) influence. On the other hand, sea level rise increased MAD distance from the main river mouths/deltas, resulting in decreased influx of terrestrial organic carbon and lower accumulation rates of organic carbon in general. This reconstruction of the oceanographic setting is valuable considering that the Adriatic Sea is one of the key locations for the formation of DW and thus affects the overall Mediterranean circulation.

Effect of forced aeration on the biogeochemical cycle of nutrients and metal(loid)s as a remedy for hypoxia in a permanently stratified estuary (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea)

The Timavo River estuary (northern Adriatic Sea) is characterised by strong thermohaline stratification that keeps the deep waters hypoxic. The consequence is an harmful algal bloom at the surface in summer that can be mitigated with a forced aeration system installed at the bottom to improve water oxygenation. The nutrient and metal(loid) cycle was investigated, before and during reoxygenation, using an in situ benthic chamber coupled with sampling and analyses of the water column, sediments and porewater.Dissolved oxygen (DO) decreased along the water column and quickly within the benthic chamber when aeration was not in operation, resulting in hypoxia (2.29 mg L−1) at the bottom and consequent increase in nutrient and metal(loid) concentrations. In contrast, DO levels increased during the activation of the forced aeration system, which proved effective in mitigating oxygen depletion and the efflux of metal(loid)s and nutrients into the overlying water.

Tito's Residential Complex in Miločer, Budva (1975-1980)

The subject of this paper is the development of a conceptual design proposal for the official residence for the President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito on the Adriatic coast of Miločer, Budva (1975-1980). The research aims to unveil patterns of the regionalist approach within urban and architectural thought in the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (SR Montenegro) through the project of the presidential complex, shown here for the first time since its official presentation to the president himself in 1976. In methodological terms, the paper examines multiple layers of historical background of Miločer that affected the design­ers' process of thinking, followed by a clear-cut description of the planning procedures, methodologies and reasoning that emerged from the archives and the first-hand witnesses of the whole process. The final results reflect on the critical approach within the practice of the post-war generation of Montenegrin architects, successfully balancing between the poles of power-representation and contemporary architectural currents.

Science and imperialism: Setting the maritime sovereignty at the periphery of the French Empire through the survey of the Adriatic Sea (1806–1809)

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Adriatic was still insufficiently explored sea. The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), which in 1806 resulted in a territorial expansion of the French Empire to the eastern Adriatic (formerly part of the Austrian Empire), highlighted the issues of territorial sovereignty both on land and at sea, triggering the first hydrographic survey of the Adriatic. Napoleon Bonaparte, whose military operations were conducted precisely at sea, hired Charles François Beautemps-Beaupré, his best hydrographer, to conduct a hydrographic survey of the eastern coasts of the Adriatic. Conducted in the period 1806–1809, the survey resulted in the first modern hydrographic charts of the Adriatic that were accompanied by a hydrographic report, containing an analysis of its currents, winds, tides, and geomagnetism. Beautemps-Beaupré’s campaign was the first scientifically based survey of the Adriatic whose charts and the attached report represented a shift towards an all-encompassing convention of maritime cartography. It enhanced both the sovereignty over the newly acquired sea and the insight into the maritime theatre of the Napoleonic Wars, thus confirming a strong union between political power and science. The aim of the article is to show why the French survey was a turning-point in geographical knowledge on Adriatic and how French imperialism affected the knowledge on martime geography of the Adriatic Sea.

Modeling of the habitat suitability of European sprat (Sprattus sprattus, L.) in the Adriatic Sea under several climate change scenarios

The Mediterranean Sea represents the lower latitudinal limit of the European sprat range, where it is considered a sentinel species favoring temperate–cold temperatures. Sprattus sprattus is a plankton feeder that plays an important ecological role in contributing to the transfer of energy from lower to higher trophic levels, but climate-driven increases in sea temperatures may reduce the suitability of the pelagic habitat and threaten the tropho-dynamic role of sprat in areas such as the Adriatic Sea. The latter is an enclosed basin characterized by shallow waters and high annual temperature variations. Here, to investigate present and future habitat suitability areas for sprat, we applied four species distribution models (SDMs) using fishery-independent data collected from 2004 to 2021, along with remotely sensed and modeled environmental variables. A set of nine environmental predictors was tested, and the resulting best model was averaged in an ensemble model approach. The best ensemble models revealed good to high accuracy (sensitivity and specificity ≥ 0.8). The sea surface temperature and chlorophyll concentration emerged as the main explanatory variables in predicting the potential habitat of sprats, followed by bathymetry. The resulting probability of occurrence maps revealed that the species is bounded in the northern Adriatic Sea, where a longitudinal shift of high-suitability habitats from inshore to deeper and colder waters was detected between early and late summer. Future projections under IPCC representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios 4.5 (intermediate emission) and 8.5 (high emission-warm) underline small changes along with a gain of new areas in late summer in the short-term period up to 2050. Conversely, the temperature increase projected for the end of the century is predicted to cause a loss of suitable habitat area for sprats of up to 88% under a high emission-warm scenario relative to current habitat occupancy throughout the basin.

Evidence of lake-level fluctuations during the late Holocene based on diatoms from Lake Vransko, Cres Island (north-central Mediterranean)

An investigation of Lake Vransko, located on the island of Cres in the Adriatic Sea, was performed in order to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental changes that occurred during the late Holocene, based on diatoms. Fluctuations in the lake level were mostly driven by the intensification of climatic oscillations (wet periods during North Atlantic Oscillation intervals and summer drought during Azores High intervals) and anthropogenic influences (e.g. the extraction of drinking water). The anthropogenic impact of local deforestation is encountered, associated with a peak in phosphorous in the deeper parts of the lake cores. As a consequence of these impacts ten diatom abundance zones (DZs) and the water/sediment interface (WSI) were recorded from the deeper core (CS-51) and two from the shallower (CS-52) core, along with the WSI, based on which an abrupt fluctuation in the level of the lake was interpreted. A dominance of Epithemia adnata in the deeper core, and Gomphonema pumilum in the CS-51, and in the CS-52 indicated a shallow phase connected with the summer drought recorded in the lake. A dominance of Amphora inariensis, Pseudostaurosira spp., Cyclotella spp. and Pantocsekiella ocellata in the rest of the cores indicated deeper, more alkaline lake conditions during the wet periods. The DZs accord with depth variations in Adriatic coastal lakes that are key sites of more extreme recent changes in the local climate.

Groundwater and Dissolved Gases Geochemistry in the Pesaro-Urbino Province (Northern Marche, Central Italy) as a Tool for Seismic Surveillance and Sustainability

The Pesaro-Urbino province (PUP) (northern Marche, central Italy) is one of the most seismically active areas in Italy, with the most recent earthquakes (5.2 and 5.5 Mw) having occurred on 9 November 2022 with an epicenter located in the Adriatic Sea. A detailed geochemical and isotopic characterization of 87 groundwaters (and dissolved gases) circulating in the PUP was carried out to (i) unravel the geochemical processes controlling the water circulation, (ii) investigate the interplay between deep originated fluids and shallow aquifers, (iii) evaluate the reliability of specific geochemical parameters as tracers for seismic activity, and (iv) select the most suitable sampling sites to deploy a monitoring network to highlight possible compositional changes related to the regional and local tectonic activity. The geochemical dataset includes waters showing five different hydrochemical compositional facies: (i) calcium bicarbonate with low Total Dissolved Solids (TDS); (ii) calcium bicarbonate with relatively high concentrations of sulfate (>200 mg/L); (iii) sodium bicarbonate with pH > 8.8; (iv) calcium sulfate; (v) sodium chlorine. Two distinct groups of dissolved gases can be recognized: (a) N2-dominated gases with N2/Ar ratios similar to those of Air-Saturated Water (ASW); (b) CO2- and CH4-rich gases associated with high TDS and springs rich in S-bearing reduced species. The isotopic values of δ13C-CO2 and δ13C-CH4 suggest a predominant biogenic origin for both species with a negligible contribution from deep-seated fluids. The Ca-HCO3(SO4), Ca(Na)-SO4(Cl), and Na-HCO3 waters, being likely related to deep hydrological pathways, are the best candidates to be included in the monitoring network in the Pesaro-Urbino province. This will be of paramount importance in addressing the challenge of unravelling fluid geochemical precursors of earthquakes, thus increasing and improving seismic surveillance practices and hazard mitigation.

Amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) in the North Adriatic Sea: ecological observations and spawning behavior.

The European amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) is a member of the chordate subphylum Cephalochordata, and, as such, a key model organism for providing insights into the origin and evolution of vertebrates. Despite its significance and global distribution, detailed characterizations of natural populations of cephalochordates are still very limited. This study investigates the abundance, habitat, and spawning behavior of amphioxus in the North Adriatic Sea. Across 32 sampled sites, adult amphioxus were consistently present, reaching densities exceeding 300 individualsm- 2. DNA barcoding confirmed the species as B. lanceolatum, and environmental analyses revealed an amphioxus preference for slightly gravelly sand with low silt content and a correlation between amphioxus density and the presence of specific macroinvertebrate taxa. Remarkably, the amphioxus population was breeding in early spring and possibly late fall, in contrast to the typical late spring/early summer spawning season described for other populations of European amphioxus. Amphioxus adults kept in captivity maintained the spawning seasonality of their place of origin, suggesting the possibility of extending the overall spawning season of European amphioxus in laboratory settings by exploiting populations from diverse geographic origins. This study thus expands our understanding of B. lanceolatum ecology and reproduction in the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing the role of the North Adriatic Sea as a substantial reservoir.

Simulation of large plausible tsunami scenarios associated with the 2019 Durres (Albania) earthquake source and adjacent seismogenic zones

We present an analysis of the hazards of potential earthquake-generated tsunamis along the Albanian–Adriatic coast. The study adopts a case study approach to model plausible tsunamigenic events associated with the 2019 Mw 6.4 Durres (Albania) earthquake source zone. The approach combines current findings on regional tectonics and scenario-based calculations of potential tsunami impacts. The study’s goal is to analyse the propagation of tsunami waves generated by identified seismogenic sources (namely ALCS002 [Lushnje] and ALCS018 [Shijak]) and determine the tsunami risk assessment for Durres City on the Albanian–Adriatic coast. The sources can generate earthquakes with maximum moment magnitudes of Mw 7.5 and Mw 6.8, which are likely to trigger tsunamis that could cause significant impacts in the region. The modelling is performed deterministically with the NAMI DANCE numerical code, including scenarios associated with the largest plausible earthquake. The model integrates bathymetry and topography datasets of large and medium resolutions. Each tsunami scenario simulation is based on the solution of the non-linear shallow water equations used to generate maximum positive wave amplitudes (water elevation), travel time, and tsunami inundation maps. In Durres City, modelling indicates that medium-sized waves could reach up to 2.5 m inland, posing a significant danger to the city’s low-lying areas. The most substantial tsunami waves are expected to impact the area within the first 10 to 20 min. Combining inundation maps and information on exposed assets allows for identifying areas where damages can be expected. In terms of human impact, a preliminary analysis shows that the study area is prone to tsunami threat, with more than 138,000 inhabitants living in vulnerable urban areas of Durres City by 2036. The model’s capacity to capture details related to the presence of buildings is limited due to constraints posed by the resolution of bathymetry and topography datasets available during this study. If refined with high-resolution bathymetry and topography datasets, our results can be considered a backbone for exposure and resilience assessment features to be integrated into preparedness or new urban development plans.

Assessment of the eutrophication status at Mediterranean sub-basin scale, within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

The aim of this work is to define harmonized reference conditions and assessment thresholds for selected criteria elements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor 5 (Eutrophication) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and to test if a tool for integrated assessment of the status of marine systems can be used as a common methodological approach. In this frame, we tested two statistical approaches in order to set threshold values for four criteria of Descriptor 5: nutrients, chlorophyll a, transparency and dissolved oxygen in the bottom waters. It is noteworthy that this work revealed the need to apply common procedures in data treatment and assessment evaluation. This is the first attempt to set common methods for the assessment of eutrophication in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is essential in marine environments, especially those shared by several countries. To this end, we have applied common criteria and metrics and established thresholds “Good” and “Moderate” for nutrients, chlorophyll a, transparency and dissolved oxygen in the bottom waters for the different Water Types of the Adriatic and Aegean Seas (I, II, IIIW, IIIE), based on datasets provided by Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Greece. The selected criteria elements were common for all countries, providing a unified approach to GES assessment of two case study areas: the Adriatic Sea and the Saronikos Gulf. Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) threshold values of 15.6, 6.85, 1.61 and 2.11 μmol L−1 were set for the Water Types I, II, IIIW and IIIE, respectively.We also tested if an aggregation tool for GES assessment, such as Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool (NEAT), could be used as a common methodological approach. The comparison of NEAT with TRIX showed good comparability. In this end, NEAT can be used as a useful and much needed assessment tool for assessing eutrophication status of the marine.

Unraveling the Sea Slug Fauna from an Extremely Variable Environment, The ‘Passetto’ Rocky Tide Pools (North Adriatic Sea)

Unraveling the Sea Slug Fauna from an Extremely Variable Environment, The ‘Passetto’ Rocky Tide Pools (North Adriatic Sea)

Po-210 in plankton and fish from coastal waters (gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea)

The activity concentrations of Po-210 were determined in seawater (<0.45 μm), suspended particulate matter (0.45–20 μm), fractionated plankton (20–50 μm, 50–200 μm, >200 μm) and tissues from four fish species, namely European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), Golden grey mullet (Chelon auratus), Gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) and Common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), collected in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea). The activity concentration of Po-210 in seawater varied from 0.4 to 2.2 mBq/L in the dissolved phase (<0.45 μm) and from 0.4 to 0.8 Bq/L in suspended particulate matter (0.45–20 μm). Plankton fractionation showed the levels of 62–395 Bq/kg Po-210 in the >200 μm mesoplankton fraction, 65–459 Bq/kg in 50–200 μm and 52–537 Bq/kg in 20–50 μm microplankton fractions. No significant differences were found between fractions. The Po-210 distribution trend in fish tissues was in order: liver > stomach with intestine > kidney > spleen > gonads > gills > muscle. Bioaccumulation factors were determined for fish tissues indicating that the amount of Po-210 mostly depends on fish feeding habits. Hence, the main pathway entry of Po-210 is through ingested food. The highest estimated average total annual effective ingestion doses of Po-210 are obtained via the consumption of Common Pandora (7.1 μSv/year to 16.5 μSv/year) while the lowest doses are due to the consumption of European seabass (0.32 μSv/year to 0.76 μSv/year). Comparison with levels reported for other Mediterranean and Atlantic areas showed that only activitiy concentrations of Po-210 in fish appear significantly different, most likely because different fish species were analysed. The human dose exposure via fish consumption in the area is rather low.

Conceptual Model for Integrated Meso-Scale Fire Risk Assessment in the Coastal Catchments in Croatia

Various factors influence wildfire probability, including land use/land cover (LULC), fuel types, and their moisture content, meteorological conditions, and terrain characteristics. The Adriatic Sea coastal area in Croatia has a long record of devastating wildfires that have caused severe ecological and economic damages as well as the loss of human lives. Assessing the conditions favorable for wildfires and the possible damages are crucial in fire risk management. Adriatic settlements and ecosystems are highly vulnerable, especially during summer, when the pressure from tourist migration is the highest. However, available fire risk models designed to fit the macro-scale level of assessment cannot provide information detailed enough to meet the decision-making conditions at the local level. This paper describes a model designed to assess wildfire risks at the meso-scale, focusing on environmental and anthropogenic descriptors derived from moderate- to high-resolution remote sensing data (Sentinel-2), Copernicus Land Monitoring Service datasets, and other open sources. Risk indices were integrated using the multi-criteria decision analysis method, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), in a GIS environment. The model was tested in three coastal catchments, each having recently experienced severe fire events. The approach successfully identified zones at risk and the level of risk, depending on the various environmental and anthropogenic conditions.